Alaska not even mentioned in 'Federal and State Family Caregiving Legislation: A Summary of Bills from 2004-2006'

The following information is excerpted from the PDF document: "Federal and State Family Caregiving Legislation: A Summary of Bills from 2004-2006" by the Family Caregiver Alliance, National Center on Caregiving.

The stress, financial strain and compromised health of family caregivers is very often overlooked, as is the value of the care that they provide. The PDF document states that, "If family and informal caregivers are going to be able to provide good care, keep their loved ones living at home or in the community rather than institutions, and take good care of their own health and maintain quality of life, they need assistance." Among the kinds of assistance that is recommended as needed is financial assistance. The PDF document goes on to examine some of the bills that have introduced and concludes:

As evidenced by the bills introduced in the last three years, family caregiving issues are now on the policy agenda at both the federal and state levels. However, less than 25% of those family caregiving bills that were introduced were enacted, and the programs and laws that currently exist only skim the surface of what is needed. In caring for their loved ones, family caregivers save taxpayers an estimated $306 billion in long-term care costs a year.2 As new legislative sessions get underway in states across the country and in Congress and as the public becomes more aware of caregivers' stories – their contributions to society and the harmful effects they often suffer as a result of caregiving, we expect lawmakers to continue to promote policy initiatives and innovations to support the nation’s family caregivers.

Hawaii introduced the most caregiver-related bills between 2004 and 2006 with 9 of the 16 bills that were introduced being in Hawaii. Makes them sunny warm beaches look mighty tempting to a cold Alaskan. In fact, I don't even see Alaska mentioned in the document.

Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Virginia, Hawaii, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Arizona, Alabama, New Jersey, PA (think that's Pennsylvania?), Washington, NE (I should know what NE is (that Nebraska?) but it's 3 a.m.), Maryland... think that's all of them. And no Alaska. ::shakes head:: Come on people. Don't anyone in Alaska care about the seniors anymore? Are you trying to chase the people that built and protected this state to places like Hawaii and Arizona?